The condition of the Rite appears, from the report of the Deputy, to be good, and the prospect for the coming year is encouraging. No Council of Deliberation was held, for reasons which seem to have been satisfactory to the Deputy. The Bodies at Kalamazoo, which have been dormant for a time, it is believed will resuscitate, and soon again be in working order, and the suggestion of their removal, or any of them, to Grand Rapids, does not seem to meet the general approval of the original and prominent members. MASSACHUSETTS. The Old Bay State again presents her yearly record under the active and appreciated superintendence of Ill.. BRO.. SAMUEL C. LAWRENCE, Deputy, and that record is encouraging to us all. With firm and measured step the Brethren of the various grades have marched onward, upholding the banner of our Rite and illustrating its teachings, for which their reward has been found in the harmony and prosperity of the several Bodies, and in an increased respect for this branch of Freemasonry. Notwithstanding the depressing effect of business affairs, their work has gone forward and their numbers have increased, and although this fact is modestly stated by the Ill.. Deputy, we can be allowed to say that in Massachusetts this Supreme Council has a pillar of support of which it may well be proud. The printed transactions of the Council of Deliberation in this District, present a volume executed in the highest style of the typographical art, neatly and conveniently arranged, and eminently worthy of preservation in our Archives. We most earnestly congratulate Massachusetts and her indefatigable Deputy, and trust that their future progress may be in keeping with the excellent foundations they have laid. In conclusion, your Committee would ask to supplement their report with an expression of regret that in so few of the Masonic Districts in this Jurisdiction, Councils of Deliberation have been held, inasmuch as the Constitution states that they "shall" be called by the respective deputies each year for the purposes prescribed in the organic law. Having thus, however, imperfectly disposed of the several matters confided to their consideration, your Committee beg leave to congratulate the Supreme Council upon the general prosperity of this beautiful Rite throughout the Northern Jurisdiction. Fraternally submitted. HENRY C. Banks, WALTER A. STEVENS, Committee. The Special Committee on Time and Place for the next Annual Session, presented the following report, which was accepted and adopted: To the Supreme Council of Sov.. Gr.. Ins.. Gen.. of the 33d and last Degree of the A... A... S... Rite for Northern Jurisdiction of the U.. S.. The Special Committee to whom was referred the matter of the time and place for the next Annual Meeting of this Supreme Council, recommend an acceptance of the invitation of Wisconsin Consistory, to hold our next annual meeting in the City of Milwaukee, and that the time be fixed for the third Tuesday of September, 1878, at 10 o'clock A. M. CLINTON F. PAIGE, Ill.. JOSEPH D. EVANS, of Committee on Condition of the Rite, presented the following resolutions, which were adopted: In reference to the communication from the Supreme Council of Canada, sent to the Committee on Condition of the Rite, we offer the following resolution: Resolved, That the Grand Secretary transmit the names from time to time of such members who may be suspended or expelled from any of the Bodies of the Rite in this jurisdiction to any Supreme Council with whom we are in correspondence, and may wish to reciprocate in such exchange of information. In regard to the communication from the Supreme Council of Scotland inviting this Supreme Council to meet it and others in a Congress to be held in Edinburgh on the tenth of September, the Committee report, that as the time for its meeting had passed before the convening of this Council, further action is unnecessary. Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH D. EVANS, Ill.. GEORGE W. DEERING, of Committee on Condition of the Rite, presented the following report, which was accepted, and the report and resolution adopted: The Committee on the Condition of the Rite, to whom was referred the preamble and resolutions from the Council of Deliberation of New York, regarding the guardianship of children of deceased Brethren, by subordinate Bodies of the Rite, would respectfully report that, while Charity and Benevolence are the recognized principles of Masonry, and the exercise of these qualities by the Bodies of our Rite is at all times commendable, assistance and guardianship, as contemplated by these resolutions, should be personal and not official. The engrafting upon our Rite of an elaborate system of formal adoption, would tend to complications and difficulties in the Subordinate Bodies, and is not contemplated by our Constitutions. We believe that all new systems or former rituals of this character should be avoided, unless called for by a pressing necessity, and would submit the following resolution : Rosolved, That it is inexpedient at this time to add to the Constitutions of the Supreme Council any regulations regarding the guardianship of youth by our Subordinate Bodies, or to prepare any Ritual to be used in connection therewith. GEORGE W. DEERING, Committee. Пll.. R. M. C. GRAHAM offered a resolution to permit Cosmopolitan and Aurora Grata Consistories to have concurrent jurisdiction in the cities of New York and Brooklyn, which was referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence. The Special Order (the final consideration of the revised Constitutions) was taken up-Ill.. Bro.. PALMER proceeded with the reading of the several amendments. On motion of Ill.. Bro.. DoYLE the amendments, as reported by the Committee, were adopted. Ill.. BRO.. THOMAS A. DOYLE moved that the Constitutions as reported with the amendments, be adopted as a whole, which was seconded, and the revised Constitutions as reported were unanimously adopted. (See Appendix.) On motion of Ill.. HENRY L. PALMER, it was Resolved, That the printing of the Grand Constitutions adopted at this session be referred to the GRAND SECRETARY GENERAL and Ill.. Bro.. WELCH, of New York, and that they be authorized to change the arrangement of the several subjects as may seem desirable. The Committee on Foreign Relations presented the following, which was referred to the Committee on Finance: The Committee on Foreign Relations respectfully report that a claim has been made upon this Supreme Council for a portion of the expenses of the late Congress at Lausanne. As a claim it cannot of course be admitted, as we had no relation to that meeting at the time, nor have we since given it any allegiance whatever, but all the documents connected therewith—some of them costly-have been sent to us, enabling us to place in our Archives a complete history of the Congress. We recommend that the sum of fifty dollars be appropriated as a contribution to the expense of preparing and printing said documents, and that the money be forwarded to the Supreme Council of Switzerland with an explanatory note. JOHN W. SIMONS, For Committee. On motion of Ill.. JOSEPH D. EVANS, the vote authorizing the Grand Secretary General to print and distribute the Ceremonials of Inauguration, Installation, Opening, &c., presented by Ill.. BRO.. MCCLENACHAN, was reconsidered. Ill.. A. E. STOCKER moved that the Ceremonials be referred to the Committee on Rituals, with instructions to revise, print, and distribute the same at least thirty days prior to the next Annual Session of this Supreme Council. Ill... BRO.. DOYLE moved to amend by adding at an expense not to exceed one hundred and seventy-five dollars, which was adopted, and the motion as amended was adopted. The Committee on Foreign Relations submitted the following report, which was accepted, and the report and recommendation was unanimously adopted: The Committee on Foreign Relations, to which was referred the Balustre of the Supreme Council of England, Wales, and the Dependencies of Great Britain, announcing the death of Ill.. CHARLES JOHN VIGNE, 33°, Past M.. P.. Sov.. Grand Commander of that Supreme Council, and an Honorary Member of our own, would report : That this Supreme Council has learned with sincere regret the decease of our Illustrious Brother, who was for more than twenty years one of the most active and energetic members of the Rite, and by his zeal and devotion not only materially contributed to its prosperity, but incited others to that emulation which finds its expression in a closer drawing of the Mystic bonds of the Order, and a more intimate union in the work committed to us. In common with his immediate Brethren we owe him a debt of gratitude for his long and unselfish labors, and we join with them in the expression of great sorrow for the loss we share with them. In respect for his memory, we recommend that a memorial page in our Transactions be inscribed in his honor, and that a special letter of condolence be addressed to the Supreme Council for England, Wales, and the Dependencies of Great Britain. Fraternally submitted, JOSIAH H. Drummond, 33°, Committee. Ill.. BRO.. BLADES moved to reconsider the vote fixing the time of meeting in Annual Session of 1878, which was lost. On motion of Ill.. ENOCH T. CARSON, it was Ordered, That one set of re-print of old proceedings of Supreme Council be presented to each Subordinate Body in this jurisdiction. The Committee on Jurisprudence presented the following, which was accepted, and the report and resolution was adopted: To the Supreme Council of Sov. ́. Gr... Ins.. Gen.. of the Thirty-third Degree, N.. Mas.. Jurisdiction of the United States: The Committee on Jurisprudence, to which was referred the following resolution of Ill.. R... M.. C... GRAHAM, have considered the same, and recommend its adoption : Resolved, That Cosmopolitan and Aurora Grata Consistories located in the cities of New York and Brooklyn, are hereby granted concurrent jurisdiction and privileges. Fraternally submitted, CHARLES L. WOODBURY, On motion of Ill.. THOMAS A. DOYLE, it was Ordered, That all standing regulations of this Supreme Council be printed with the Constitutions; and that the number of copies printed be left to the discretion of the Grand Secretary General. To the Supreme Council Sov.. Gr.·. Ins.. Gen.. of the Thirty-third Degree, A.. A.. Rite for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States: Your Committee on Charters and Dispensations respectfully report, that the resolution offered by Ill.. BRO.. JOSEPH H. HOUGH, relating to the restoration of the Charters of the Chapter, Council and Lodge of Perfection at |